PARLIAMENT

Mahaweli rendered great service to farmers - Minister

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when the Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva moved four motions for the approval of Parliament, pertaining to four orders under the Section 3(1) and Section 3 of the Mahaweli Authority Act that were published in the Gazette.

Nimal Siripala de Silva (Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister):

The Mahaweli Development Project has rendered a great service to the farmers specially in the dry zones. About 55 percent of the dry zone was provided with water for cultivation and drinking under this project. It was planned to cultivate 365,000 hectares with Mahaweli water and now an area of 362,500 hectares is being cultivated. The full amount spent on the Mahaweli Development Project is US$ 1,636.7 million. Our responsibility is to drive the same project without stopping that stage. We have to remember that late Minister Gamini Dissanayake played a pivotal role in that project. Under the Mahinda Chintana we have decided to cultivate more areas of the Mahaweli Zone to uplift the economy.

In the Mahaweli B Zone adjoining the Walawe river the Government has initiated many development projects including construction of the Hambantota Port and the airport apart from the cultivation projects. Our objective is not only to develop those areas through cultivation but also through other ways.

Late Minister Gamini Dissanayake has gazetted an order in 1981 to provide water to the South from the Walawe river but approval has not been given to it. Today that gazette is also presented here for the proper approval.

The Rambakan Oya area has also been identified as a special Mahaweli Zone. We hope that project can be completed soon. The Moragahakanda reservoir that is being developed based on the Ambanganga and Kaluganga river basins will be the biggest reservoir in the country. It will be four times bigger than the Parakrama Samudraya reservoir.

The Kebithigollewa AGA Division has also been identified as a Mahaweli Zone.

About 4,000 hectares will be cultivated under the Rambakan Oya reservoir project.

About 82,000 hectares will be cultivated under Moragahakanda reservoir project.

Scientific surveys have been conducted on these projects. The total number of the families that have to be resettled is 1,581. All those persons who suffer a loss under these projects will be given lands.

The farmers did not have deeds for their lands and it was a major issue. So far I took measures to grant deeds for 40,000 farmers under the project to grant 100,000 deeds. Soon another 15,000 deeds will be given to the farmers.

We will also improve the tourism industry based on these reservoirs and tanks. We will contribute our maximum under the Mahaweli Authority to make this country the Miracle of Asia and hope these orders will be approved

Chandrani Bandara (UNP): I would like to point out some facts related to the irrigation work in Anuradhapura. We also regret these were so delayed to be approved.

We see that a large sum of money is spent on displaying posters and banners of these irrigational projects. The Government has started various projects all over the island and the work of them is not progressing. The work is halted and there is only a commotion.

The Minister said that these projects were delayed due to the war. We have to point out that there are so many problems and deficiencies in areas under the Mahaweli project. People in these regions lack technology and the schools have not got enough facilities.

I request to change the regions under Mahaweli project to suit the export market. Otherwise the development of these areas will be permanently stagnated.

State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister P Dayaratne: Rabakan Oya project is nearing completion. Through this Gazette Rabakan Oya is taken under the Mahaweli project and the work is progressing faster.

This area is a poor region and the people's living conditions are not satisfactory. We will be able to upgrade the lives of these people through this project.

The foundation for this project was laid in 1979. But the work could not be carried forward. Fortunately we could restart it in 2007. Less than US $ 2,000 million is spent on this project up to now.

Due to the LTTE terrorism some roads were closed. But recently we could open some of them and now the distance between Ampara and Polonnaruwa has become closer. Therefore the farmers can transport their paddy faster and cheaper now.

We cannot be satisfied just by implementing the Rabakan Oya project. The whole Binthenna area should be developed.

Anoma Gamage(UNP): The Mahaweli project was a far-sighted project initiated by late President J R Jayewardene. Today several more regions in Ampara are included into this project.

A 3rd generation in these Mahaweli regions has emerged.

Their requirements are different from that of their ancestors. We should also think whether the new generation will like to continue agriculture.

When the Mahaweli project was started, there was hardly any facilities such as water and technology.

But J R Jayewardene and Gamini Dissanayake had the courage to continue this project successfully.

I am personally happy that the Mahaweli project has come under an efficient Minister as Nimal Siripala. We have to ensure its success.

S C Muthukumarana (UPFA): As a person in the Mahaweli region, I am happy that I got an opportunity to speak about it today.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Even I wondered why it was delayed this much to present these to the Parliament for approval. Even after years of delay our Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was able to present it today in the House. This shows his enthusiasm in carrying forward the duties he is entrusted with.

I think Chandrani Bandara, MP talked with ignorance over what is going on in the Mahaweli region. She is not aware of the present situation. The Government is taking an enormous effort to revive the agricultural sector in this region.

The environment in the Mahaweli region is also improved. Nobody feels this area as a rural and underdeveloped area today.

A Vinayagamoorthi (TNA): The residents of the North have no access to water. There is a water scarcity and the water is obtained from the Iranamadu tank. The water in this tank is only sufficient for the consumption of people in Killinochchi. Therefore I request to pay attention to supply water to these areas from the Mahaweli project.

Nimal Siripala (Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister): Today we are doing a feasibility study with the World Bank assistance regarding the possibility to provide water from Malvathu Oya through a canal to the north. This will be a priority.

Rohana Pushpakumara (UPFA): I request the honourable members to visit Moragahakanda project. It is only after seeing it, one can obtain a sound knowledge about the Mahaweli project. Then everyone will be able to see the reality.

The President has initiated many development projects. These projects are very pragmatic.

A number of parallel projects are also going on under the Mahaweli project. The benefits of these will be received by the people who are living in these areas in the near future.

Parakrama Samudraya is one of the largest tanks. But Moragahakanda reservoir is four times larger than the Parakrama Samudraya. Therefore a large number of people will be benefitted by this project.

The former Government's policy was that there should be no more irrigation projects. Through 'Regaining Sri Lanka' urbanization was given prominence while suppressing the agricultural sector. The highest percentage of paddy production is received from the Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only leader who lived close to the people. This will surely be written in the history books. Therefore let us all join to make this effort a success.

Ven Ellavala Medananda (JHU): I believe it is our duty to point out true facts.

Those days higher importance was given to Mahaweli zones. During those days we pointed out the weaknesses in this project. We were engaged in aracheological excavations in these areas. We saw the future problems that might arise as a result of this project. The country had a rich and very old irrigation system which was properly established. But due to the creation of direct water lines this system was disturbed. It is said that the Moragahakanda project is not progressing successfully. But this is not true.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): The Mahaweli project received a higher contribution from Gamini Dissanayaka. But his name was mentioned less here. Ven. Thera said that there were some disadvantages due to the Mahaweli project. But the benefits we got from it cannot be underestimated. For advertisements and publicity of the Moragahakanda project a large sum of money was spent according to newspapers articles.

Wijith Wijithamuni de Soyza (Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Deputy Minister):

Moneragala has a majority of farmers. The Walawe Ganga river basin in my district is the only area that comes under the Mahaweli Zone. That area is to be developed. The Sevanagala Sugar Company is not developing area where nearly 4,000 farmer families live stating that it belongs to the Mahaweli Zone. So immediate steps should be taken to solve this problem.

The other matter is the third generation of the people who were settled in Mahaweli Zone are living in these areas without permission as they don't have any document. They have constructed houses, taken electricity, water and other facilities. We have to solve their problems. Another problem is the Madulla Divisional Secretariat area has been deprived of water and I suggest that the Hada Oya project should be initiated to provide water to them.

R Sampanthan (TNA):

The areas of the Mahaweli Zone that were developed were given to the people of the majority community. The minority people were not given land in those areas.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA):

The primary functions of Mahaweli Authority is over. So that the roads, lands cultivation, water supply, cultural activities should be handed over to the relevant authorities. Otherwise it is going to be a waste of public money.

Navin Dissanayake (UPFA):

The lands that come under the Mahaweli Authority were not divided among the public based on ethnicity. Owing to such a complaint the then Chairman of Mahaweli Authority had to resign from his post. So, I assure something such did not happen at that stage. One main project that SLFP and UNP united was the Mahaweli project.

The UNP leadership did not listen to us. We maintained that the UNP should support the Government to defeat the LTTE terrorism. The UNP leadership did not do so. If the UNP supported the Government for that purpose, the UNP could have been stronger today. We have to strengthen Mahaweli Zone. We have to obtain the support of the private sector for that purpose.

S M Chandrasena (Irrigation and Water Resources Management Deputy Minister):

The Mahaweli project was initiated under Samagi Peramuna. The Mahaweli project is not a failure. The highest paddy harvest is received from the Mahaweli H Zone. It is a clear example for its success. Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated the Mahaweli project is over. It's wrong. The Moragahakanda reservoir will be four times bigger than the Parakrama Samudraya. There are projects in progress to provide water to Trincomalee, Horowpathana and Welioya.

Welioya which is in the Mahaweli Zone will be developed to benefit the farmers and the people living in these areas. With the uplift of the Mahaweli Zone, the fishing industry will be strengthened. Orders which were passed today would definitely benefit the farmer community and people in these areas.

The orders were passed.

New prisons for Jaffna

The cabinet of Ministers have approved to build a new prison in Jaffna to minimise the congestion in prisons, Parliament was told yesterday.

Meanwhile, Pallekele Prison construction is under way. Phase I had been completed while another two phases are to be completed.

According to an answer tabled by Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister DEW Gunasekara in response to a question raised by UPFA MP Arundika Fernando, there are 13,681 prisoners and 13,470 suspects behind bars.

However, the total capacity in the prisons is 11,707.

Local Authority (Amendment) Bill presented in House

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday presented the Local Authority (Amendment) bill to charge the procedure of electing members to local Government bodies.

A candidate of a recognized political party will have to submit Rs 5,000 while an independent group candidate have to submit Rs 2,000 along with their nomination papers. The furnishing deposit is not required according to the existing system except for candidates of an independent group. They have to submit a deposit of Rs 250 each.

According to the proposal Amendment 70 percent of the members are elected under the word system (first past the post system) while 30 percent of members under the Proportional Representation System.

The Bill also proposes setting up of a National Delimitation Committee to make recommendation to the Minister for the division of each Local Authority were into wards.

The Bill also proposes setting up of District Committees to assist the Delimitation Committee.

If a candidate is not elected and has not allowed more than 20 percent of the total valid polls him or her deposit would be forfeited.

According to the proposed Amendment Bill if a budget vote is lost twice in any local Government body the Chairman must be ceased to function in his position.